The Artist

Kihara (b.1975, Samoa) is of Samoan and Japanese descent, and moved to New Zealand in 1991 to study fashion design at Wellington Polytech (now Massey University). Her work has been exhibited widely overseas, including a solo exhibition at MOMA. She has won multiple prizes including the Creative New Zealand Emerging Pacific Artist Award and the Wallace Paramount Award. Kihara identifies as fa’afafine and her creative practice explores gender identity, authenticity and colonialism.